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8 DAYS A WEEK

Lucky 7: Dr. Barry Glassman once again steps into the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge, the delightfully miserly creation in Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale, when Civic Theatre of Allentown presents its 23rd annual staging of "A Christmas Carol," beginning Nov. 30. The production on the main stage of Civic's Nineteenth Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown, runs through Dec. 15. Glassman, above, in nightcap, has played Scrooge in more productions at Civic than any other actor in the theater's presentation of the holiday classic. This production marks his seventh time in the role. Says Civic Artistic Director Sanders, who directs the show, "The cast is a bit larger. We had an incredibly large turnout for casting this year. Over the years we have revamped sets, costumes and scenes and made some minor changes, but the spirit always remains constant." Tickets: CivicTheatre.com, 610-432-8943

Lucky 13: Touchstone Theatre presents "Christmas City Follies XIII," its annual high-spirited vaudevillian variety show inspired by the "Christmas City" of Bethlehem and the holiday season. "Follies" runs for four weekends, Nov. 29 - Dec. 22. Many Lehigh Valley natives celebrate the winter holidays with a trip to the theater, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem, for the side-splitting hilarity and touching Christmas sentiment in a show that includes quirky characters, sketches, and songs. The cast includes, above, left to right, Bill George and Kyle Lewis. Returning favorites include Touchstone Founder Bill George's beloved character, The Old Guy, coming to terms with difficult questions in his life; Mary Wright's sweet Little Red, continuing her quest for seasonal happiness; the Pajama Sisters, bringing new holiday cheer to unexpected songs; and the immortal Shopping Cart Ballet. The play, directed by Touchstone Artistic Director Jp Jordan, merrily lampoons popular television, the stresses and joys of surviving the holiday season, and, of course, the fabled Mayan Apocalypse. Tickets: touchstone.org, 610-867-1689

See Interview: Page B2

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

You've got "Illatszertar": Crowded Kitchen Players presents the romantic Christmas comedy, "Parfumerie" adapted by E.P. Dowdall, and directed by Ara Barlieb, Nov. 30 through Dec. 16 at McCoole's Arts and Events Place, 10 S. Main St., Quakertown "Parfumerie" is a new adaptation of the Hungarian play "Illatszertar" by Miklos Laszlo, which inspired the movies "The Shop Around the Corner" with James Stewart and "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and the Tony award winning musical, "She Loves Me." The cast includes, above, left to right, Kelly Herbert James (Amalia Balash) and William Alexander, Jr. (George Horvath). Horvath is an over-worked, underpaid employee at a parfumerie in pre-war Budapest. Just days before Christmas, shop owner, Mr. Hammerschmidt (David Oswald), fires him. Horvath discovers that the stranger he has fallen in love with through a secret correspondence is Balash, a co-worker with whom he constantly feuded. Tickets: ckplayers.com, 610-395-7176